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Indonesian Moslems Debate With Christians About Religion
From Compass DirectIndonesian judges today sentenced three women to three years in prison for allowing Muslim children to attend a Christian Sunday school program. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun received the sentence after judges found them guilty of violating the Child Protection Act of 2002, which forbids âdeception, lies or enticementâ causing a child to convert to another religion. The maximum sentence for violation of the Act is five years in prison and a fine of 100 million rupiah ($10,226). The Sunday school teachers had instructed the children to get permission from their parents before attending the program, and those who did not have permission were asked to go home, according to Jeff Hammond of Bless Indonesia Today, a Christian foundation operating out of Jakarta. None of the children had converted to Christianity. When the verdict was announced at 11 a.m. local time, the courtroom crowd erupted with shouts of âAllahu akbarâ (âGod is greatâ). .... The three women, described by friends as âordinary housewives,â were relieved that they had not been given the maximum five-year prison sentence. All three, however, were devastated at the prospect of being separated from their children, who range from 6 to 19 years of age. As they have done throughout the trial, Islamic extremists made murderous threats both inside and outside the courtroom. Hammond said several truckloads of extremists arrived; one brought a coffin to bury the accused if they were found innocent. âThe ladies, witnesses and judges were constantly under the threats of violence from hundreds of Islamic radicals who threatened to kill the three ladies, witnesses, pastors, missionaries and even the judges if the women were acquitted,â Hammond told Compass. Before a court proceeding on August 25, the Islamic radicals warned the judges that they were willing to shed their own blood if the women were not found guilty. .... Defense attorneys pointed out that several of the Muslim parents had been photographed with their children during the Sunday school activities, proof that they had permitted their children to attend. When Muslim leaders lodged a complaint, however, the parents refused to testify in support of the women. No witnesses, defense attorneys had told the court, testified or provided evidence of the charges that the women had lied, deceived, or forced the children into changing their religion. Also, they said, witnesses who testified against the women had no first-hand knowledge of the educational program and were speaking from hearsay. ..... The women launched the program in September 2003. It proved popular, and Muslim children soon began to attend with the verbal consent of their parents. Since the first accusations were made, Muslim authorities in West Java have forced Zakariaâs church to close. Muslim leaders have forced at least 60 unlicensed churches in West Java to shut down over the past year, with minimal intervention from the government. .... Posted by: Mike Sylwester 2005-09-08 |
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